Universal joint.



B. 0. RHODES.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

1 11101111011 mun APR. 3, 1909. RENEWED MAY 22,1912.

1,040,417. Patented 0011.8,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1v in-neuron Wihwoog;

i W 8% MAW/d1. r111MM/n/ [6g B. 0. RHODES.

UNIVERSAL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED APILS, 1909. RENEWED an 22. 1912.

1,040,417. Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'r STATES ra'rnnr OFFICE.

BERT O. RHODES, OF KA'LAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

UNIV'ERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1909, Serial No. 487,704. Renewed May 22, 1912. Serial No. 699,071.

I To all whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, BERT O. Rnoons, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at the .city' of Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo,

State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal .Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in universal olnts.

The main objects of this invention are: F1rst,- to provide an improved universal jointwhich is simple in structure and is,

at the same time, very strong and durable. Second, to )rovide an improved universal joint in whlch the bearings are effectively lubricated. Third, to provide an improved universal joint in which the bearings are thoroughlv protected from dust and dirt.

' Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

,The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying thefeatures of my invention'is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, torining a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a detail side elevation with portions shown in longitudinal section, of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse central section, taken, on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with portions shown in full lines. Fig.3 is a detail longitudinal sec-- tion showing details of the supports for the casing. Fig.4: is a .detail showing details of the supporting means for the casing.

- Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of a moditied .constriuztion, the modification consisting of section is provided with a shaft member 2 having forked curved bearings 3 thereon, the arc of the bearing exceeding that of a half circle. The coupling n'iember -t for the shaft members is preferably block-like in form, and is provided with curved groove like bearings 5, arranged in oppositely disposed pairs, the radial plane of the bearings 5 for one shaft member being at. right an glcs to the radial plane of the bearings for the other shaft member. The length of the coupling member 4: is less than the distance between the ends of the forked bearings 3 of the shaft members, so that the same may be engaged therewith when presented radially thereto, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The bearings of the shaft members are then swung into engagement with the bearings of the coupling member and are retained thereon owing to the shape of the bearings.

The coupling member is preferably chambered to form an oil reservoir (3, which is provided with an oil delivery opening 7 for each. bearing 5. I pre't'eral'ily provide a casing, as is lllustrated in Figs. 1. to 4-, the easing comprising a shell-like bodv portion 8, u v connected to the shaft members. lhc casing portions 5) are preferably arranged over the end of the body 8 and are secured thereon by the sccurii'ig wires 10, their inner edges being secured in the grooves 11 in the shaft member by means of the securing wires 19. This casing forms a dust excluder, and a lubricant retaining means for the coupling.

The casing is preferably supported by the spring retaining members 13 and 14-, which are mounted on the studs 15 threaded into the coupling member 4. ()ne of these studs serves as a closhag plug for the supply opening 16 for the lubricant reservoir (3. The supporting member 14 is provided with out.- turncd lugs '17 which engagcsuitablc notches 18 in the ends of the body portion S of the casing, see l iga. 3 and ell lly this means, the casing is supported so that it can be readily removed as desired, and very light in weight, its support adding very little to the weight of the coupling.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the casing is omitted.

.If desired, the lubricant may be placed within the outer casin When the outer casing is used as a lubricant receptacle the lubricant reservoir 6 is not required.

I have illustrated and described my im proved joint in detail in the form I have found practical in use. I am, however, aware that it is capable of considerable variation in structural details without depart ing from my invention, but as these structural modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention re lates, I have not attempted to point-them out herein, and I desire to be understood as claiming the structure specifically as illustrated, as well as the invention broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is: i a

1. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft members each having a curved fork bearing, the arc of which ex.- ceeds a half circle; a coupling member there for havingcurved groove-like bearings for said bearings ofesaid shaft members, the radial plane of the bearings for one shaft member being at a right angleto the radial. plane of the'bearings for the other, the length of said coupling member being less than the distance between the ends of said shaft bearings whereby the same may be engaged with the coupling member bearings when presented radially thereto, said coupling member being chambered to form an oil reservoir and having an oil opening for each of its said bearings; a casing comprising a shell-like body portion, the flexible portions connected to each end thereof and to said shaft members; and supporting members for said casing mounted on said coupling member.

2. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of 'shaft members each having a curved forked bearing, the arc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member therefor having curved groove-like bearings for said bearings of said shaft members, said coupling member being chambered to form an oil reservoir and having an oil opening for eachof its said bearings; a casing comprising a shell-like body portion, and flexible portions connected to each end thereof and tosaid shaft members; and supporting members for said casing mounted on said coupling member.

3. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft members each having a curved forked bearin the arc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member therefor having curved groove-like bearings for said bearings of said shaft members; a casing comprising a shell-like body portion, the flexible portions connected to each end.

thereof and to said shaft members; and sup- I porting members for said casing mounted on said coupling member, said casing sup-v porting members being independent of the bearings of the joint.

4:- In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft members each having-a curved forked bearing, the arc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member therefor having curved groovelike bearings for said bearings of said shaft members; a casing comprising a shell-like body portion, and flexible port-ions connected to each end thereof and to said shaft members; and supporting members for saidcasing mounted on said coupling member to engage said body of said casing, said shell supporting member being independent of the bearings of the joint. v

5. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft members each having a curved forked bearing, thearc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member therefor having curved groove-like bearings forsaid bearings of said shaft members; a casing; and spring supporting members for said casing mounted on said coupling memher.

6. In a universal joint, the combination of a pair of shaft members, each having a curved forked bearing, the arc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member therefor having curved groove-like bearings for the bearings of said shaft members; and a casing comprising a shell-like body portion and flexible portions connected to each end thereof and to said shaft members, said coupling member being providediwith casing supporting members on which said shelllike body is removably mounted and said supporting members being independent of the shaft and coupling member bearings.

7. In a universal joint, the combination of apair of shaft members, each having a curved forked bearing, the arc of which exceeds a half circle; a coupling member having curved groove-like bearings for said bearings of'said shaft members, said shaft members being adapted to be engaged with said coupling member when presented radially thereto; and a casing comprising a shell-like body port-ion removably mounted on said coupling member, the supports for said casing being disposed on said coupling member between the said bearings thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

BERT O. RHODES. [as] VVitne'sses:

GLORA'E. BRADEN, GERTRUDE 'IALLMAN. 

